Suction accumulator destratifier

Abstract

A suction accumulator for use in a heat pump or air conditioning system includes an inlet tube that has a plurality of holes therein. One hole is preferably at the end of the inlet tube while the others are preferably of decreasing size and spaced apart from near the bottom of the accumulator upward along the inlet tube. Such an arrangement ensures that a vapor/liquid mixture of refrigerant and lubricant entering the accumulator does not cause excessive foaming during normal operation while quickly destratifying a stratified mixture that frequently occurs during periods of system inactivity or floodback.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A suction accumulator for use in a heat pump or air conditioning system, comprising: an inlet tube extending from a top of said accumulator toward a bottom of said accumulator;   said inlet tube effective for admitting a mixture of a refrigerant and an oil;   said accumulator being effective for accumulating said mixture in liquid form;   an outlet tube having an opening near said top of said accumulator and an orifice near said bottom of said accumulator; and   a portion of said inlet tube having a plurality of holes therein, said plurality of holes being spaced apart along said portion from near said bottom of said accumulator upward along said inlet tube, such that entry of said mixture into said accumulator from said inlet tube destratifies said mixture in liquid form accumulated in said accumulator.   
     
     
       2. An accumulator according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of holes includes first and second holes, said first hole being larger than said second hole and being closer to said bottom of said accumulator than said second hole. 
     
     
       3. An accumulator according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of holes includes first and second holes, said first hole being larger than said second hole and being closer to said bottom of said accumulator than said second hole. 
     
     
       4. A suction accumulator for use in a heat pump or air conditioning system, comprising: inlet means for admitting a mixture of a refrigerant and an oil into said accumulator;   said accumulator being effective for accumulating said mixture in liquid form;   first outlet means for removing a vapor form of said refrigerant from said accumulator;   second outlet means for removing a liquid form of said oil from said accumulator; and   said inlet means including means for destratifying said mixture in liquid form accumulated in said accumulator.   
     
     
       5. An accumulator according to claim 4, wherein said means for destratifying includes means for reducing a velocity of said mixture as said mixture is admitted into said accumulator by said inlet means.